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Elite-level physical fitness isn?t just a goal at Cary CrossFit at Athletic Lab. It?s a passion that drives coaches and exercisers alike during Olympic-inspired workouts. Goal-oriented and intense, like a staring match between two dark-roasted coffee beans, each CrossFit session squeezes a hearty dose of cardio and strength work into 55 minutes. Teams of fitness-seekers band together during group training, cheering one another toward personal bests during exercises such as squat variations, handstand pushups, and kettlebell swings. In a 7,500-square-foot training area, medicine balls and lifting platforms encourage muscles to ripple, and a 45-meter track inspires calories to melt during sprints and plyometric drills. In addition to absorbing training tips from a staff of certified strength and conditioning coaches and even a PhD-level sport scientist, clients seeking sports-performance gains can build power, speed, and agility using equipment from Legend Fitness, Ivanko, Concept 2, and Pendlay. Those looking to lose weight can sign up for a BodyMetrix test, which analyzes the body?s levels of muscle and fat using ultrasound as high-tech as a segway-drawn carriage.

It may be the inaugural year of Tysons Fall Harvest, but it already has the docket to rival any well-established fall festival. This family-friendly event will keep kids entertained with plenty of activities, from pony rides and petting zoos to a hay maze and pumpkin carving. Those who need to brush up on their carving skills can sit in on demonstrations from master pumpkin carvers or head to the craft corner to paint or just hug a gourd that escaped.
Even without kids in tow, adults will have plenty to do, including visiting the wine and beer garden for unlimited samples when they purchase a tasting glass, as well as shopping a marketplace with pumpkins and fall decor. They might even consider dropping by Rocknoceros's set at the live-music stage; they might be a kids' band, but their acclaim has landed them gigs at Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, and the Kennedy Center. A portion of the Harvest's proceeds will benefit the Spirit of Hope Children's Foundation.

Flakes of ice float through the frosty air, twinkling in the light. Rosy-cheeked children skate across the glittery ice, clutching their parents' gloved hands and shrieking gleefully. Though it seems as though it belongs in the pages of a winter fairy tale, this is the scene of a typical August afternoon at Polar Ice House. The hot summer sun burns brightly outside, but the temperature inside the vast indoor ice rink remains a brisk 45 degrees.
Although the wintry conditions make the rink a less than ideal venue for a bikini fashion show, the cold environment is perfect for the skating lessons, hockey games, and public-skating and hockey sessions that the rink hosts year-round. The center's attentive instructors lead students of all ages and experience levels through fundamental skating skills, progressing to advanced techniques, such as jumping, spinning, and karate chopping aggressive abominable snowmen, once students have mastered the basics.

Laced with elements of yoga, Pilates, and gymnastics, the women-only classes at Aradia Fitness sculpt lean, toned physiques. And though physical fitness is a cornerstone of the studio, it's not the only one. Classes such as Striptease and Lap Dance foster a certain amount of unrestrained confidence that, as Aradia puts it, “teach[es] women to unapologetically love their body and themselves.” At 17 locations across the country, Aradia's staff of certified instructors, including world-record holder Amanda, lead women of all shapes, sizes, and experiences through sessions ranging from pole-dancing classes that teach aerial lifts and holds to Sexy Fit classes that forgo the pole for yoga fusion, boot camp, and lap dancing. No matter the class, the environment at Aradia is always light hearted, nurturing, and more supportive than a stainless-steel hammock.

Lead by Dr. Daniel Bannard D.C., a "Fellow" of the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture with over 30 years of experience to his name, the team at The Bannard Center uses a range of treatments to promote full-body wellness. With help from licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist Sebastion Lee L. AC., the team specializes in holistic chiropractic work, augmenting unique, energy-balancing herbal formulas with sauna sessions and acupuncture treatments. During massage work, a certified specialist rubs clients' muscles to release pent-up stress and loosen the gnarled knots of shoulder anxiety and misplanted back saplings. All visits take place in a professional office space, recently renovated with hardwood floors and warm colors.

Each of the Monkey Joe's bounce houses and fun parks located in 17 states draws its inspiration from its eponymous mascot. Legend has it that the furry purple monkey discovered bouncing by accidentally falling out of a coconut tree, and he decided then and there to spread the fun with inflatable bounce houses and obstacles, slides, and jungle gyms.
Kids aged 12 and younger can split their time among the inflatable play center, and toddlers aged 3 and younger seek binky-laden treasure chests in special play areas. With an eye toward sanitation, the staffers oversee regular wipe-downs with Swisher Hygiene formulas. They also host parties, where video monitoring and identity bracelets keep track of guests to ensure safety.